Archive for December, 2014
Happy New Year! Posted by Kasia on Dec 31, 2014
New Year’s Eve is a festive occasion that is celebrated in Poland on December 31. It is the day before New Year’s Day, which is the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. Fireworks are lit and seen in the skies above many cities in Poland around midnight between New Year’s Eve and…
What is your favorite Polish Christmas tradition? Posted by Kasia on Dec 24, 2014
Polish customs (polskie obyczaje), especially at Christmas time, are both beautiful and meaningful. The preparations for Christmas begin many days before the actual celebration. Nearly everywhere women are cleaning windows in apartments and houses just before Christmas. The insides of the houses are also cleaned thoroughly. It is believed that if a house is dirty on Christmas…
Wigilia in Poland Posted by Kasia on Dec 16, 2014
Wigilia or Wilia, from the Latin word vigilare — to watch, Czuwać in Polish, is reverently close to the heart of a Pole. It is greeted with such mystical symbolism, that it is considered by many to be a greater holiday than Christmas itself. The very word Wigilia, which in Poland was formerly known as…
Polish winter destination! Posted by Kasia on Dec 8, 2014
Although the temperatures are low and the skies often grey, there’s plenty to do in Poland in winter. This mighty country gets its first snows in November and the mercury can plummet well below freezing – January and February are the coldest months – so dress appropriately to insulate against the chill. Although Kraków is…
World Aids Day – Światowy Dzień AIDS Posted by Kasia on Dec 1, 2014
World AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – Zespół Nabytego Niedoboru Odporności) Day is held on December 1st each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global…